Recirculation and filtering system for clothes washing machine



March 8, 1960 J. BocHAN RECIRCULATION AND FILTERING SYSTEM FOR CLOTHESWASHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 16, 1957 INVENTOR. JOHNBOCHAN wf m HIS ATTORNEY March 8, 1960 J. BOCHAN RECIRCULATION ANDFILTERING SYSTEM FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.16, 1957 FIG INVENTOR. JOHN BOCHAN H IS ATTORNEY March 8, 1960 J. BOCHANRECIRCULATION AND FILTERING SYSTEM FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 16, 1957 F'IG.4-

INVENTOR. J'OHN BOCHAN BY M fifl a HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent 6RECIRCULATION AND FILTERING SYSTEM FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE JohnBochan, Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, acorporation of New York Application December 16, 1957, Serial No.702,856 7 Claims. (Cl. 6818) This invention relates to clothes washingmachines and more particularly to such machines including arecirculation system for circulating the washing liquid during thewashing operation. This is a continuation in part of my applicationSerial No. 566,221 filed February 17, 1956, now abandoned.

Recirculation systems are commonly used in washing machines in order toclean and filter the washing liquid. These systems provide forcirculating liquid from the outer tub of themachine into the clothesbasket during the washing operation. The liquid circulated into thebasket flows therefrom back into the tub through suitable overflow andother discharge means, and thus a continuous recirculation of liquidthrough the tub and the basket is created. The liquid flowing back intothe tub from the basket carries with it the lint and the insoluble soilparticles which are removed from the clothes by the washing actioneifected within the basket. The insoluble soil particles tend to settleout of the liquid during its passage through the outer tub, but somesort of filtering means must be provided in order to remove the lintfromthe recirculation flow.

It is an object of my invention to provide a recirculation system forclothes washing machines, which includes anew and improved self cleaningfilter arrangement for filtering lint from the recirculation flow.

Another object of my invention is to provide a recirculation system forclothes washing machines, including a self cleaning lint filter whichsimultaneously discharges filtered liquid to the clothes basket and thefiltered-out lint into the outer tub.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved recirculationsystem for clothes washing machines, including a stationary selfcleaning lint filter which is mounted with the machine so as to behidden from view.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a clothes washing machine havinga clothes basket enclosed within an outer imperforate tub. Meansincluding a pump are incorporated within the machine for circulating aflow of liquid from the tub into the basket during the washingoperation, and a lint filter is provided for moving lint from this flow.By my invention the lint filter comprises a self-cleaning element whichis effective to return the lint to the outer tub simultaneously as itpasses the filter liquid to the clothes basket. The filter includes alint filtering screen, a housing for the screen, and a nozzle whichdischarges the recirculation fiow across the upper surface of thescreen. Two outlets are provided from the filter, one connected to theregion below the screen and the other connected to the region above thescreen. As the flow passes across the screen from the nozzle, aconsiderable portion of it moves downwardly through the screen, beingfiltered thereby, and this filtered liquid is discharged to and thefiltered out lint is washed across the screen toward it by the action ofthe high velocity flow issuing from the nozzle. Due to the velocity ofthis flow the lint removed by the screen does not collect therein butrather is carried across the screen to the other outlet. Thus aself-cleaning action is provided within the filter which insuresdischarge of the filtered out lint into the tub simultaneously with thedischarge of the filtered liquid into the basket.

The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of thisspecification. The invention itself, however, both as to itsorganization and method of operation, may be best understood byreference to the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a clothes washing machine includinga recirculation system embodying my invention, the view being partiallybroken away and partially in section in order to illustrate details;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, partially broken away and partially insection, of the novel lint filter included in the recirculation systemof the machine of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine of Fig. 1 with certain surfacesbroken away in order to show the positioning of the filter withinthemachine;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a clothes'washingmachine, partly in section, illustrating a second embodiment of thenovel lint filter of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a washing machineincluding the improved lint filter of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partially broken away and partially insection, of the novel lint filter of Fig. 4.

Referring now to Fig. 1, I have shown therein an agitator type clotheswashing machine 1. The machine 1 includes a clothes basket 2 which isdisposed within an outer imperforate tub or casing 3. The tub 3 is inturn mounted within an outer appearance cabinet 4. At the center of thewash basket 2 there is positioned a vertical axis agitator 5 whichincludes a center post 6 and a plurality of radially extending vanes 7.The agitator is further provided with an outwardly and downwardly fiaredskirt 8 to which the vanes 7 are joined at their lower ends. The skirt 8extends to a position in proximity to the bottom of the basket 2 andcovers a substantial portion thereof.

Both the clothes basket 2 and the agitator 5 are rotatably mounted.Specifically, the basket 2 is mounted on a flange 9 of a rotatable hub10, and the agitator 5 is mounted on a shaft (not shown) which extendsupwardly through the hub 10 and the center post 6. The agitator issecured to this shaft by means of an internally threaded nut or cap 11at the top of the center post. During the cycle of operation of themachine 1, the agitator 5 is first oscillated back and forth within thebasket to wash the clothes therein. Then, after a predetermined periodofthis washing action, the basket 2 is rotated at high speed to extractcentrifugally the washing liquid and discharge it into the outer tub 3.In my preferred cycle of operation a supply of clean liquid is thenintroduced into the washbasket for rinsing the clothes, and the agitatoris again oscillated. Finally, the wash basket is once more rotated athigh speed to extract the rinse water and discharge it into the outertub.

The basket 2 and agitator 5 may be driven by any suitable means sincetheir drive means form no part of the present invention. However, by wayof example, I have shown them as driven from a reversible motor 12. Themotor 12 drives the basket and the agitator through a drive including abi-directional clutch 13 which is Patented Mar. 8, 1960 mounted on themotor shaft. The clutch .13 is direction responsive, and it is connectedby suitable belts to drive selectively the input pulleys 1 and of atransmission assembly 16 dependingjupon the direction of motorrotabasket 2 andthea agitator 5 together at high speed for centrifugalextraction. Thus, the operation carriedout,

i.e. agitation or centrifugal extraction, is controlled by the directionof rotation. ofithe drive motor, agitation occurring when the motorturnsin. one direction and centrifugal extraction occurring when it turns'inthe other direction. Although the drive mechanism'doesnot form part ofthis invention, reference is made to Patents 2,639,618 and 2,639,794v toJ.-W. McNairy both issued May 26, 1953 and assigned to the assignee ofthe present invention. These patents disclose in detail the structuralcharacteristics of the drive mechanism including the bidirectionalclutch and transmission assembly.

..The transmission assembly 16, and thus the basket 2 and theagitatorswhich are supported'by it, aresupported from the cabinet 4 by means of aresiliently mounted frame 17.. This is done so that some gyratory motionor vibration of the basket may occur:rela tive to the tub 3 during thespin or extraction operation, the tub itself being rigidly secured tothe cabinet 4. A flexible boot 18 mounted between the transmissioncasing and the tub permits the relative movement while providing a watertight seal therebetween. Preferably, and as shown, the motor 12 and theclutch 13 are also mountedlon the frame 17 so that they move with thebasket.

In order to recirculate the washing liquid from the rub a into thebasket 2 during the washing operation, the

machine 1 isprovided with a recirculation, system including a pump 19secured to the bottom wall of the tub.

under the skirt 8 of the agitator. In order to remove these soilparticles from the region beneath the agitator skirt there is provided anozzle 25 in the bottom of the basket. A controlled flow of liquid isdischarged from the basket through this nozzle 25, and this flow carrieswith it the insoluble soil particles. A boot 26 extending outwardly fromthe top of the hub 19 to the bottom wall of the basket prevents the soilparticlesfromenteriug the more or less. stagnant area adjacent the hub.The soil particles discharged through the nozzle teud to settle out inthe tub .during the passage of liquid therethrough to the pump 19 andare thereby not returned to the hasket through the recirculation system.The soilparticles and also the lint which is removed by the filter 22are later discharged from the tub during a centrifugal extractionoperation. The soil removal action whereby the insoluble soil particlesare passed out of the bottom of the basket through the nozzle 25 is notmy invention but rather is described and claimed in the copendingapplication of William R. Molnar, S.N. 468,459 filed November 12, 1954.(now Patent 2,807,949 issued October 1,1957) and assigned to the sameassignee as the present application.

. charge'to a stationary. tub or drain line.

The pump 19 is driven by the motor 12 through a flexible coupling 20between the motor shaft and the pump shaft and during the washingoperation it discharges into a hose or conduit 21 which leads to afilter 22' mounted above the basket 2. The filter 22 acts to filter outany lint carried by the recirculation flow and it discharges thefiltered liquid into the basket 2 through a spout or trough 23 extendingover the top of the basket. The filter 22 is also effective to pass thefiltered out lint back into the tub 3 at the same time as it dischargesthe filtered liquid into the basket, and its construction and operationwhereby it efiects this result form one important aspect of myinvention. This construction and arrangement are described hereinafterin detail.

The liquid flowing into the basket from the filter causes a continuousoverflowing from the basket through overflow apertures 24 provided nearthe upper edge of the basket side wall. The liquid overflowingthroughthe apertures 24 falls into the tub 3 whereby there is provided a.continuous supply of liquid for the pump 19 and thus a continuous flowof liquid through the recirculation system throughout the washingoperation. The liquid oveifiowingthrough the aperturesfid tends to carrywith itthe lintremoved from the clothes as a result of the washingoperation. A poition of this lint then passes through the pump 19 withthe water and is removed from the recirculation flow by. means of thefilter 22.

- Besides flushing lint from the-wash basket 2, theillustrailed-recirculation system is also effective to remove insolublesoil'particles from the basket. During the operation of the agitator theinsoluble soil particles removed from the clothes tend to sinkto'thebottom of the basket and then move into the quiescent zone existing Anysuitable pump may be used to create the recirculation flow during thewashing operation.v Howevenin the machine 11 have shown a pump of. thetype which dischargesinto one of two outlets depending uponthe directionof the pump rotation. A directional pump of this type is disclosed indetail and'claimed in my copending application S.N. 468,466 filedNovember 12,: 1954 (now Patenti2,883, 843 issued April 28, 1959) andassigned to the same assignee as the present invention. One. of the twooutlets of the illustrated directional pump is connected to therecirculation hose or conduit 21 for returning ,liquid to thebasket 2 inthe manner described above.- The other pump outlet is connected to ahose 27 which is adapted to be. connected or disposed for dis- The pumpis so arranged that upon one direction of motor rotation correspondingto the driving of agitator 5,. the pump outlet is discha'rged throughcouduit21 for return to basket 2 through the filteri22. Conversely, uponrotation of motor in reverse direction for spinning basket 2,' theliquid is pumped through conduit 27. to the drain. It will beunderstooduhowever that a conventional pump with suitable solenoidoperatedvalve means may be used in place of the directional pump toefiect this result, and

. that my invention is not limited to a machine having a directionalpump. 1

The filter 22 included in the recirculaiton system is more fully shownin Fig. 2. The filter includes an elongated screen 28 which is enclosedwithin and mounted by a.

housing member 29. The screen is disposed within. the housing in agenerally horizontal plane. The top and bottom walls ot the housing aredisplaced above and below the screen so as to define upper and lowerchambers30 and 31.

hand side of the housing (as viewed in Fig. 2) to an uprelatively flatstream across the upper surfaceof the filter screen;- The nozzle 33 isof approximately the same width as the screen so that the high velocityjet or stream discharged from-it is also of'approximately the same widthas the screen. 'Thenozzle is so directed that the jet leaves the'nozzlein a direction generally parallel to the plane of the screen. I

As the high-velocity stream from the nozzle 33- moves across the screen28, a considerable portion of it tends The lower chamber 31 extends fromthe left tofall 'onto the screen and pass therethrough into the lowerchamber 31-. As the liquid passes through the screen any lint which maybe carried in it is removed by the screen. In other words the screencatches the lint as the flow passes downwardly into the chamber 31. Fromthe chamber 31 the filtered liquid is then passed outwardly to thebasket through an outlet 34 in, the side wall of the chamber. Thisoutlet 34 opens into the above mentioned spout 23 which dischargesdirectly into the basket 2.

In accordance with my invention the filter 22 is selfcleaning so thatthe lint removed by the screen 28 is not retained within the filter butrather is discharged back into the tub 3. In order to effect thisself-cleaning action the upper chamber 30 of the filter is extendedoutwardly beyond the end of the screen remote from the nozzle 33, i.e.beyond the right hand end of the screen as viewed in Fig. 2. In thisregion beyond the end of the screen the upper chamber includes adepending portion 35 behind the screen mounting rib 32, and in thebottom wall of this portion 35 there is provided a second outlet 36 fromthe filter. During the operation of the filter the lint which is removedby the screen 28 is washed across the top of the screen toward theoutlet chamber b the action of the high velocity stream or jet leavingthe nozzle 33. Any lint which might tend to go through or tend to clogthe holes in the screen is washed onward by the high velocity jet beforeit can take the right angle turn necessary to pass through the screen.Also, any lint which tends to hang on the edges of the holes orinterstices of the screen is subjected to the full impact of the jet andis also washed on toward the chamber outlet por-.

tion 35. The result is that substantially all the lint entering thefilter is ultimately washed to the chamber portion 35 and passesoutwardly through the outlet 36. As is best shown in Fig. 3 the outlet36 is positioned outwardly of the side wall of the basket 2 so that anyflow through it does not fall into the basket but rather is dischargedinto the outer tub 3. Thus the lint removed by the filter is notreturned to the basket 2 but rather is passed into the outer tub 3. Thelint is then removed from the outer tub during a centrifugal extractionoperation as will be described hereinafter.

In order to secure best results from the filter 22 it is desirable thatno surface tension film be allowed to form on the screen 28, since thesurface tension would prevent the recirculation flow from passing freelythrough the screen. Thus is my preferred embodiment I prefer to keep thelower chamber 31 continuously full of liquid so that at least the lowerside of the screen 28 is cov-' ered. By so covering the screen theformation of a surface tension film is prevented. The chamber 31 ismaintained full of liquid by controlling flow rate of the recirculationflow, the flow'capacity of the screen 28 and the size of the outletopening 34. The flow rate of the recirculation flow is controlled by thejoint action of thenozzle 33 and a restrictor 37 (Fig. 1) in therecirculation conduit 21. In my preferred embodiment, it is contemplatedthat this joint action will result in a flow through the recirculationhose of about eight gallons per minute. The screen in this preferredembodiment will pass approximately six gallons per minute and by providing the outlet 34 with a lower flow capacity than that of the screenthe flow through it may be kept at a lower rate than the six gallons aminute, for example 5 gallons per minute, whereby there will always be apool of liquid created behind it in the chamber 31. By positioning thescreen the proper distance above the bottom of the chamber 31, the poolwill continuously wet it and thereby prevent the formation of a surfacetension film. It will be understood of course that the size of theoutlet and the depth of the lower chamber 31 will vary from filter tofilter depending upon the amount of liquid that it is desired to passthrough the recirculation system.

To summarize briefly the operation of the machine 1,

6 the clothes basket 2 is first filled with water by suitable watersupply means (not shown). Preferably the basket is filled completelyfull totheoverfiow level defined by the apertures 24 near its upperedge, and then a quantity of water is overflowed into the outer tubthrough the apertures. A suitable soap or detergent is either suppliedwith the water or added after the filling operation is completed. Thenthe agitator 5 is oscillated to producev a churning motion of the liquidand a tumbling motion of the articles of clothing contained within thebasket. This action results in the removal of dirt or soil from theclothes and also causes a quantity of lint to be separated from theclothes.

Simultaneously with the operation of the agitator the pump 19 creates aflow through the recirculation system comprising the pump itself, thehose 21, and the filter 22. This flow causes a continuous overflowing ofthe basket through the apertures 24 and also supplies makeup liquid forthe liquid discharged from the basket through the soil removal nozzle25. As the washing liquid overflows through the apertures 24, lint isflushed from the basket with it. Also, as liquid is discharged throughthe nozzle 25, insoluble soil particles are carried into the outer tub3. As mentioned above, the insoluble soil particles tend to settle outof the liquid within the tub. A portion of the lint is however carriedinto the pump 19 and is passed upwardly through the hose 21 in therecirculation flow.

As the recirculation flow enters the filter 22, the nozzlev33 causes itto be ejected in a high velocity stream across the top of the screen 28.The greater portion of the flow ultimately passes through the screeninto the chamber 31and thence is discharged through the outlet 34 andthe spout 23 into the basket 2. The screen 28 is, of course, effectiveto remove the lint from the flow whereby the liquid passing outwardlythrough the spout 23 is relatively lint free. The lint itself is flushedacross the screen 28 due to the action of the jet stream leaving thenozzle and passes out through the outlet 36 into the tub. Thus as aresult of the recirculation system both.

insoluble soil particles and lint are collected in the outertub duringthe washing operation. p

The soil particles and the lint so deposited in the tub by therecirculation system are removed from the tub. during the centrifugalextraction or spin stages of the machine. During a centrifugalextraction stage the basket 2 is rotated at a high speed and the liquidcontents of the basket are veryrapidly discharged into the outer tub.This results in a high degree of turbulence in the tub which washes thesoil particles and lint collected during the agitation stage into thepump 19 for discharge through hose 27 to the drain. Therefore, anyserious or undesirable collection of insoluble soil particles and lintwithin the tub is prevented. Furthermore, as the centrifugal extractionperiod continues, all of the water is pumped from the outer tub,carrying with it the soil particles and lint which have not settled outof the water. In any event, the insoluble soil particles and lint aresubstantially removed from the outer tub during each cent-rifugalextraction period.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings there is shown asecond embodiment of the invention which, while using the same inventiveprinciple as the first embodiment, includes modifications which permit athoroughly symmetrical construction to be provided with, accordingly, amore effective use of space and fewer assembly problems. Like parts tothose of the embodiment of Figs. 2 and 3 are provided with likenumerals. As before, the washing machine 1 has a basket 2 and a tub 3 ina cabinet 4, with an agitator 5 having vanes 7 for producing washingaction inbasket 2. As before,the washing liquid is circulated frombasket 2 to tub 3 and thenispumped back through conduit 21. In this casehowever, the conduit 21 is connected in cooperative relationship to asymmetrically formed filter 40 whichin 42." As shown; screen areas-41--and '42, while used independently 'o f each other, mayfbe'formedfrom a single screen'for purposes of econonry. The-screen areas 41 and42*are enclosed within and mounted by a housing member 43 in a generallyhorizontal plane, with the top and 'bottom'v'alls' of the housingdisplaced above and below the screen areas so as to'define upper andlower chambers44 and 45-connected-with screen area 41 and upperand lowerchambers46 and 47 connected with screen "area42: @onduit 21 leads into anozzle head membei '48' which is-centrally positioned in filter 40 between chambers 44 and 45 on the one hand and-46 and 47 on thegotherMember 48 has a pairof'nozzles 49 and-"50 formedthereinwithnozzle49'being associated witli=chambers 44 and 45 and nozzle '50 beingassociated with chambers and 47. Lower chamber 45 extends from nozzlel49 toan upstanding rib 51 and similarly chamber extendsfrom -nozzle Stoan upstanding rib 52. Thus it can be seen that in bothcases the chambers45=and 47-terrninate short of-tne ends of the filter; The upper chambers'44 'and 46: extend from member'48 to the left and right ends of "thefitter housing 43' respectively, as viewed in Fig. 6.

It will beobser-veddhat each of the twonozzles49 and 50 is generallyflat in" configuration," as in the first embodiment, so-thatrecirculation'fiow from-them is-discharged in a relatively fiat streamacross the upper surface of the filter-screen -areas.- As before, thenozzles are preferably of approximately the same width as the screens sothatthe high velocity jets discharged from them-are of approximately thesame width as the screens.

As before, a considerable portion of the streams issuing from nozzles 49and 50 tends to fall onto the screens 41 and 42 respectively and passthrough them, with any lint in the stream being removed. The liquidpassing through the screen enters chambers 45and 47 and thenleave'sthese-chambers through a spent 53 which services both chambersan'd which leads; as can beseen' in Figs. 4 and 5,110 a point overlyingbasket 2 'soas to discharge the filtered liquid-from the lower chambersinto the basket. As before, the filteris made self-cleaning by theprovision of depending portions 54 and 55 which are provided behind ribs51-and S2 respectively and which have respectively outlets 56 and-57provided therein. During the operation of the filterthe lint which isremoved by the screens is washed across the top of the screens towardthe 'outlet chambers 'by the action of the high velocity streams."Again; the existence of a surfacetension film on the screensca'n-beprevented if so desired by keeping the lower chambers 45' and-47continuously full of liquid, so that at-least the lower sides of thescreens are covered, byproportioning the inlet flow and outlet flow inthe filter in the same manner as beforel Thus the same beneficia'letfects are obtained as inthe embodiment of Figs. 2. and 3-wnile at thesame time a symmetrical arrangement hasbeen provided which fitseifectively and conveniently into the general scheme of the washingmachine.

From the. above it willbe seen that the invention provides arecirculation system including a-new and improved .filter arrangementwhich'iseftect-ive to separate lint-from the recirculation how andreturn it to the outer tub" of'the' machine at the same time as it ispassing filteredliquid to the wash basket. Due to the cleaning actionot-the filter there is-never any need for the operatorof thema'chineto-remove the filter and clean'it. Thus it maybe'hi'dden fromview if so desired within the machine and mounted at any convenient spotabove the clothesbasket. Since thefilter itself includes no moving partsit is' reiatively simple to fabricate andto assemble Within the washingmachine, and further it is relatively tool proof in operation. I

Whilein accordance'with'the patent statutesl have described whatatpresent are considered to be the pre-' ferredie'mbodiments' of myinvention, itr'will be obvious to those skilled in the arts that variouschangesand modifications may be made therein without departing from theinvention; arid-I therefore aim in the appended-claims within'the' tocoverallsuch'equivalent variations as fall true spirit and scopeof theinvention.

What i cl'aim as new and-desire to' secure by Letters Patent ofthe-United States is: 3 e

l. Ina clothes washing machine, a clothes basket, an outer impertoratetub enclosing said-basket, means including a pump for circulating a flowof liquid from said tub into said basket during the washing operationand a filter forremoving lint from said flow between saidtub and saidbasket, said filter comprising a screen secured in a position removedfrom the vertical, a housing forsaid screen, a nozzle formed todischarge: said flow athigh velocity generally parallel to said screenacross the upper surface of said screen, a first :outlet means from saidfilter connected to the region below said screen for discharging intosaid basket the 'filtered liquid passing through said screen, and secondoutlet means'from said filter arranged to discharge'into said tub forreturning to saidtub the line removed'from said liquidby saidscreen,said secondoutlet means being.

connected to the region above said screen and displaced from said nozzlewhereby the flow issuing from said -noz-- zle washes said lintacross-said screen to said: second outletimeans.

2. In a clothes washing machine; a clothes-basket,

an outer imperforate' tub enclosing said basket, means including a pumpfor circulating a flowofliquid from said tub into said basket during thewashing operation;

and a filter for removing lint from said flow between said tub and saidhasket,-said filter comprising a screen secured in a position removedfrom the vertical, ahousing for said screen; a nozzle formed todischarge's aid flow at -highvelocity across the upper surfaceofsaidscreen and generally parallel thereto, first outlet means from saidfilter connected to the region below said screen for discharging intosaid basket the filtered liquid passing through said screen, and secondoutlet means from said filter connected to the region above said screenand arranged to discharge into said tub for returning to" said tub thelint removed from said liquid by said screen,-

said: tub and said basket, said-filter comprising a screen disposed in agenerally horizontal plane, a housing en? closed said screen and formingupper and lower chamhers respectively above and below said screen, anozzle formedlo discharge said how at high'velocityacross the uppersurface of said screen and generally parallel= thereto, first outletmeans from said lower chamber for discharging into said basket thefiltered liquid passing through said screen, said first outlet meanshaving a lower .fiow capacity than said screen thereby totmaintainsaidlower chamber full of liquid and prevent a surface tension film fromforming onsaid screen; and second outlet means from said filterconnected to said upper chamber and arranged to discharge into" saidtub, for returning tov said tub the line removed from said liquid bysaid screen, said second outlet being positioned at the opposite end ofsaid screen from said nozzle whereby said lint is washed across saidscreen to-said second outlet means-by the flow issuing from saidnozzle.

4. ln a clothes washing machine, a clothes'ba'sket, an outer imperforatetub enclosing said basket, means including a pump for circulating allowofliquid'from said tubaiuto said basket during. the washingioperation,

asamei and a filter for removing lint from said flow between said basketand said tub, said filter comprising an elongated screen disposed in agenerally horizontal plane, a housing enclosing said screen and formingupper and lower chambers respectively above and below said screen, arelatively fiat nozzle for discharging said flow at high velocity acrossthe upper surface of said screen in a flat stream, said stream beingdischarged generally parallel to said screen and being approximately aswide as said screen, and first outlet means from said lower chamber fordischarging into said basket the filtered liquid passed through saidscreen, said first outlet means having a lower flow capacity than saidscreen thereby to maintain said lower chamber full of liquid and preventa surface tension film from forming on said screen, and second outletmeans from said filter connected to said upper chamber and arranged todischarge into said tub for returning to said tub the lint removed fromsaid liquid by said screen, said second outlet means being positioned atthe opposite end of said screen from said nozzle whereby said lint iswashed across said screen to said second outlet means by the flowissuing from said nozzle.

5. In a clothes washing machine, a clothes basket, an outer imperforatetub enclosing said basket, means including a pump for circulating a flowof liquid from said tub into said basket during the washing operation,and a filter for removing lint from said flow between said tub and saidbasket, said filter comprising a screen disposed in a generallyhorizontal plane, a housing enclosing said. screen and forming an outletchamber below said screen, a nozzle formed to discharge said fiow athigh velocity across the upper surface of said screen and generallyparallel thereto, first outlet means from said outlet chamber fordischarging into said basket the filtered liquid passing through saidscreen, said first outlet means having a lower flow capacity than saidscreen thereby to maintain said lower chamber full of liquid and preventa surface tension film from forming on said screen, and second outletmeans from said filter arranged to discharge into said tub for returningto said tub the lint removed from said liquid by said screen, saidsecond outlet means being connected to the region above said screen anddisplaced from said nozzle whereby the flow issuing from said nozzlewashes said lint across said screen to said second outlet means.

6. In a clothes washing machine, a clothes basket, an outer imperforatetub enclosing said basket, means including a pump for circulating a flowof liquid from said tub into said basket during the washing operation,and a filter for removing lint from said fiow between said tub and saidbasket, said filter comprising a pair of screen areas secured in aposition removed from the vertical, a housing for said screen areas,nozzle means extending into said housing intermediate said screen areas,a pair of nozzles formed in said nozzle means to discharge said flow athigh velocity in two opposite directions across the upper surfaces ofsaid screen areas respectively and generally parallel thereto, firstoutlet means from said filter connected to the region below said screenareas for discharging into said basket the filtered liquid passingthrough said screen areas, and sec 0nd and third outlet means from saidfilter arranged to discharge into said tub for returning to said tub thelint removed from said liquid 'by said screen, said second and thirdoutlet means being connected to the region above said screen areas andbeing respectively displaced across said screen areas from said nozzleswhereby the flow issuing from said nozzles washes said lint across saidscreen areas to said second and third outlet means.

7. In a clothes washing machine, a clothes basket, an outer imperforatetub enclosing said basket, means including a pump for circulating a flowof liquid from said tub into said basket during the washing operation,and a filter for removing lint from said flow between said tub and saidbasket, said filter comprising a pair of screen areas disposed in agenerally horizontal plane, a housing enclosing said screen areas andforming upper and lower chambers respectively above and below each ofsaidscreen areas, nozzle means extending into said housing intermediatesaid screen areas, a pair of nozzles formed in said nozzle means todischarge said flow at high velocity in two opposite directions acrossthe upper surfaces of said screen areas respectively and generallyparallel thereto, common outlet from said lower chambers for discharginginto said basket the filtered liquid passing through said screen areas,and second and third outlet means from said filter connectedrespectively to said upper chambers and arranged to discharge into saidtub for returning to said tub the lint removed from said liquid by saidscreen areas, said second and third outlet means-being positioned atopposite ends of said housing across said screen areas from said nozzlesrespectively whereby said lint is washed across said screen areas tosaid second and third outlet means by the flow issuing from saidnozzles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS763,318 North June 21, 1904 1,653,473 Schulz Dec. 20, 1927 2,274,402Dunham Feb. 24, 1942 2,481,979 Colley Sept. 13, 1949 2,661,095 Koth Dec.1, 1953 2,797,569 Kirby July 2, 1957

